Opinion

Memorial Day, sometimes called Decoration Day, is a day to honor deceased friends and family, usually on the last Monday of May.

Veterans Day, Nov. 11, is a federal holiday to honor all veterans - both living and deceased. It is a time to honor the deceased and to recognize and thank those living that served and those that are serving the citizens of the United States throughout the world.

You probably know a veteran of past service, and more than likely, you have close kin that served.

To the elected officials of Cynthiana - I am writing with a tongue in cheek request for help. I own my residence, which is on the west end of Battle Grove Avenue. You may not have noticed but we haven’t had the benefit of a nicely paved street for some years now here on Battle Grove. What with all the water and sewer leaks, not to mention the gas line leaks, a good part of our street has been made up of poorly applied cold patch and gravel for some time now.

Next Wednesday, Nov. 11, our nation will recognize the 90th anniversary of what was known for years as Armistice Day but what we now call Veterans Day.

President Woodrow Wilson chose that date because, in 1918, it marked the formal end of World War I, the first major global conflict that, unfortunately, did not live up to one of its popular nicknames: The War to End All Wars.

The decision to include all veterans, not just those who served in World War I, came in 1954, when Congress passed and President Eisenhower signed that intent into law.

I would like our community to know, if you already didn’t know, what a great group of teens we have in our little city.

On Wednesday, Oct. 28, several youth groups from our local and rural churches banded together to collect food for our local Food Pantry. This was called ‘SuperHero’ and was their way of celebrating trick-or-treat. A great amount of food was collected and the Food Pantry wants them to know how much it was appreciated.

Today I scrubbed my kitchen floor, on my knees with a bucket of sudsy water and a brush, “Cinderella-style.”

After that, I polished all the stainless steel and rubbed the countertops with stuff that made them gleam. Then I vacuumed all the wayward popcorn from underneath the couch cushions and cleaned both bathrooms.

When I finally sat down with my can of diet ginger ale, it hit me how good it felt to work with my whole body.

The scrubbing motion stretched my tight back and polishing the stainless steel until I could see my reflection made me smile.

Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults in the U.S. Here in Kentucky, statistics from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet show that drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 were involved in more than 26,000 collisions in 2008, resulting in 141 fatalities. Seventy-percent of those killed were teenagers. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, 16-year-old drivers are more than twice as likely to be involved in fatal crashes as older drivers.

Halloween is always a festive time of the year, especially when there are children around. The magic of the season lends itself to making memories for the young and the young at heart.

Halloween’s arrival is usually greeted with cool, crisp evenings and an array of colorful leaves – and this year should be no exception. For weeks, many of us are consumed with carving pumpkins; decorating with fodder shocks and fall’s vegetables; attending costume parties, and, of course, trick or treating.

I’m writing in regards to what I consider to be an every day worsening problem - reckless, speeding and inattentive drivers on US 62 between Georgetown and Cynthiana. I set cruise control on my vehicle between 50 and 55 mph most all the time because I recognize with the smoother ride of most of today’s vehicles, it is so easy to accelerate beyond the limit. I am passed around curves, crests of hills, in the emergency lanes, as well as in straight stretches... as if I’m sitting still.

The fear associated with H1N1, commonly known as the swine flu, lessened in late spring when schools closed for summer vacation. However, the concerns returned in full force when schools recently returned to session. Last week, health officials declared flu in Kentucky “widespread,” the highest level.

H1N1 is classified as a pandemic flu, rather than a seasonal flu, because it is caused by a new flu virus that people have not been exposed to before. The virus spreads quickly from person-to-person.

One of the things I miss most about living in California is the Pacific Ocean.

This past weekend I was at Cocoa Beach and although I thoroughly enjoyed sitting on the beach and watching the waves, when it comes to ocean waves, compared to the Pacific, the Atlantic wimps out.

I grew up at the beach. Almost every Sunday afternoon my mom, dad, sister, brothers and I would head to Zuma Beach, near Malibu. Once there, I would race from the parking lot into the surf with the goal of “swimming past the waves.”